Punishing people for crimes depends upon aims the penal system should go after. This is a field of inquiry always actual and sensitive. The present volume contains contributions of acknowledged experts in jurisprudence, criminal law theory, criminology and penology. It focuses on a variety of the most recent streams of thought as to the philosophy of punishment, on international and interdisciplinary criminal law issues, on the role criminal sanctions play as well as on law comparative issues concerning Cyprus and Greece. The theoretical part presents vistas relative to the relationship of criminal law and politics, whereas the international/interdisciplinary criminal justice discourse touches upon topics like EU and international criminal law, organized crime, sentencing, correctional policy and transitional justice. The comparative part deals with crucial sectors of applied discourse as to punishment like suspension of imprisonment, life term, penology problems and problems of specific sanctions like confiscation. The volume contributes thus to a comprehensive updating of the respective academic discussion.